THE TOP 10: PLAYERS TO WATCH IN BRISBANE
You can like it, or laugh at it, but with Super Rugby just around the corner it pays to keep an eye on the Brisbane Global Tens tournament.
Staged at Suncorp Stadium today and tomorrow, the event comprises five Kiwi Super Rugby teams, four from Aussie, a couple of club sides from France and Japan and another representing Fiji.
Given some of the whacky selections, it can be difficult to keep a straight face when scrolling through the squads, but it doesn’t hurt to keep an open mind when reaching for the TV remote to indulge in some summer rugby.
None of the New Zealand teams comprise any current All Blacks because they are still on leave, while other key players have stayed at home to focus on training for the 15-man game.
You just hope some proud rugby men will leave the ground with their dignity intact.
This hybrid form of the code is all about pace, fitness and the ability to make fast decisions while on the brink of exhaustion. So why former All Blacks tighthead prop Carl Hayman, who played the last of his 45 tests in
2007, has been asked to play in the steamy Queensland conditions is anyone’s guess.
Hayman, 38, has been included in the French club side Pau, which also comprises former All Blacks Conrad Smith and Colin Slade.
Ex-All Blacks playmaker ‘‘King’’ Carlos Spencer will also run around for the Blues, while former Wallabies Andrew Walker (Brumbies), Andrew Frier (Rebels) are others to be rolled out.
Staged for the first time in 2017, the tournament was played in blistering hot conditions which proved of great discomfort to players and spectators alike. This year games have been scheduled to start later in the day.
The Chiefs beat the Crusaders
12-5 in the final last year.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on in Brisbane:
CARLOS SPENCER (Blues)
Good grief. At 42 years of age ‘‘King Carlos’’ cannot expect to dip into a bag full of tricks, as he once did when he ruled Eden Park. Father time won’t allow that. Playmaker Spencer played his last test for the All Blacks in 2004. He looks in great nick, though.
CONRAD SMITH (Pau)
The last time we saw Smith in the All Blacks’ uniform was when he was replaced by Sonny Bill Williams during the halftime break of the World Cup final in 2015. He wasn’t happy about it either, and who could blame him? Now Smith, 36, returns with the French club he joined after the global tournament.
ELLIOT DIXON (Highlanders)
The former All Black didn’t have a memorable 2017. After three test appearances the previous year, flanker Dixon failed to breach the standards that demanded selection for the national side. Playing tens should suit the athletic back rower.
TYREL LOMAX (Highlanders)
NZ Rugby won the fight for prop Lomax. A year ago he was contracted to the Rebels and had played for the Australian under-20 side in the world championships. Then
JULIAN SAVEA (Hurricanes)
Rugby players are trained by PR types to babble cliches. Words like ‘‘challenges’’, ‘‘processes’’ and ‘‘goals’’ are often woven into statements to send us all into snoozeland. Savea needs to do all his yapping on the paddock if he is to win a recall by the All Blacks selectors. Simple as that.
JONE MACILAI (Crusaders)
There’s no shortage of speed in the Crusaders squad: George Bridge, Manasa Mataele and Braydon Ennor are among those who former All Blacks selector Earle Kirton would call ‘‘Gassy Guys’’. Macilai has also got some toe. Hardly sighted in Super Rugby last because of injury.
WILL GENIA (Rebels)
The halfback was one of the Wallabies best last year. Returned from playing club footy in France and blew away any doubts as to whether he was just coming back to Aussie to coast. Should be a decent buy for the Rebels.
DIGBY IOANE (Panasonic Wild Knights)
The Crusaders didn’t get much mileage out of ‘‘Diggers’’ last season because of injuries. Now he is playing under Robbie Deans in Japan. Ioane is an entertainer, and still loves to score tries. Age isn’t on his side but he’s an enthusiastic type.
TAQELE NAIYARAVORO (Waratahs)
This bloke is a tank. He remains in the Sydney-based side as coach Daryl Gibson searches for the answer to the problems that beset the team during their miserable run in Super Rugby last year. If he in good shape, Naiyaravoro, at around 120kg, can be a beast.
ANDREW WALKER (Brumbies)
In 1992 Walker made his NRL firstgrade debut for the St George Dragons and eight years later he hopped over to the rah-rah code when he was signed by the Brumbies. In 2004 he was back with the leaguies, playing for the Manly Sea Eagles. At 44 he’s no pup.